Telephone system.



- Patented July 4, I899. I w.. w. BENNETT.

TELEPHONE- SYSTEM.

(Application fild Dec. 1', 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

WHIJZSSZS yqlfovge ys, m

Nu; 628,068. Patented July 4, I899.-

w. w;.. BENNETT.

TELEPHONE SY'STEII.

(Application filed 1550A, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet 2.

Lin/0 I LTHO.,WASN\NGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. BENNETT, OF MESQUITE, TEXAS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

sPEcIFI'cA'rIoN formin part of Letters Patent No. 628,068, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed December 1, 1897. Serial No. 660,339. (No model.)

To all whom it nasty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mesquite, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Telephone System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephone systems; and it has for its object to provide a novel arrangement of circuits in connection with a pair of telephone-receivers at each subscribers station, whereby the subscriber can cut out the section of the main line at either side of his station, so that the conversation being carried on between two subscribers cannot be heard by the other subscribers on the same line.

The improved system contemplated by the present invention is only intended for use in connection with telephone systems wherein a plurality of instruments are in the same main-line circuit and aims to overcome the objection of all subscribers on the same main line being able to hear conversation carried on.between any two subscribers.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better, understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a subscribers telephone apparatus provided with a pair of receivers as contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is an interior viewof the bell-box, showing the side thereof fitted with the two sets of switchsprings. the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is adetail in perspective of the receiver switch lever or hook. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the wiring or circuits for each subscribers telephone apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bell-box of an ordinary telephone apparatus, such as com-' monly used at each substation or by each subscriber on the same main line. Thebell-box 1 has fitted to the'door thereof the usual callbells 2 and houses therein the ordinary generator 3, which is operated in connection with Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view onthe normally-closed circuit-closer 4 in the usual manner.

The present invention contemplates no change in the construction or manner of op erating the generator and call-bells, but provides for the use of a pair of the'ordinary receivers, (designated as 5 and 5, respectively,) which receivers when "not in use are hung up on the hooks 6 of the switch-levers 7, fitted in one side of the bell-box 1.

A pair of the switch-levers 7 is necessarily employed to provide for the use of the two receivers 5 and 5,-and each of said switch-levers is arranged to work in an opening 8, formed in one side of the bell-box and is pivotally mounted at its inner end, as at 9, on

the inner extremity of a bracket-arm 10, also arranged within the openingS and carried by the face-plate 11, secured to the outer side of the bellboX. The inner end of each switchlever 6 has a short pendent arm 12, to which is connected one end'of a retractile spring 13, the tension of which normally servesto hold the switch-lever in an elevated position, said lever being depressed by the weight of the receiver when such receiver is hung in the hook 7 of the lever. Each of said switchlevers 6 has fitted thereto between its ends a contact-pin 14, extending beyond both sides of the lever and designed, to cooperate with the switch springs or plates used in connection therewith.

In connection with each of the receiver supporting switch-levers 6 is employed a separate set of switch springs or plates fitted to the inner side of the bell-box adjacent to the openings within which the switch-levers work, and in the diagram of Fig. 5 the separate sets or groups of switch springs or plates for each complete switch are designated,respectively, A and B, the set of switch-springs of the switch A cooperating with the switch-lever for the receiver 5,and the set of switch-springs of the switch B cooperating with the lever for the receiver 5. There are three pairs of contact-springs in each of the switches A and B, two pairs of which (designated, respectively,

' 15 15 and 16 16) are arranged side by side and o are secured at their upper ends to the inner side of the bell-box above the plane of the opening 8 immediately therebelow, so that the lower ends of the same are engaged by the contact-pin 14 of the switch-lever when in its normal elevated position. Below the two upper pairs of switch-springs 15 15 and 16 16 in each of the switches A and B is arranged the third pairofset-springs(designated as 17 17)and spaced apartasufficient distance, so that the upper free ends thereof will be respectively engaged by the opposite portions of the contact-pin 14 when the switch-lever carrying such pin is depressed by the weight of the receiver.

To provide for properly wiring the apparatus, there are employed three sets of binding-posts, one set of such binding-posts being conveniently arranged above the top of the bell-box and designated, respectively, 18, 19, 20, and 21. A second set of binding-posts is conveniently arranged below the bell-box, and these posts are designated, respectively,

by the numbers 22, 23, 21, and 25, while the third set of binding-posts may be conveniently fitted to the bottom of the bell-box and are respectively numbered 26, 27, 28, and 29.

The binding-posts 18 and 21 have connected thereto the separate terminals of the mainline wire L, said line-wire being connected up with each subscribers apparatus in the samemanner. Thebinding-post18,1'eceiving one terminal of the line-wire, has a wire connection a with one of the contact-springs 17 of the switch A, while the binding-post 21, receiving the other terminal of the line-wire, has a wire connection Z) with one of the springs 17 of the switch B, so it will be obvious that when the spring 17, connected with either of the wires a or b, is not in contact with the pin of the switch-lever then one section of the line-wire leading from the subscribers apparatus will be cutout of the speaking-circuit, thereby accomplishing the result contemplated by the present invention.

The switch-spring 17 in switch A, paired with the spring having the wire connection a, has two wire connections therewith, respectively, c and d, the latter of which wires connects with the binding-post 28, having also connected therewith one of the cords e of the receiver 5, the other cord or wire of which receiver connects with the binding-post 20. The other wire connection a connects with one member of the circuit-closer 4, the other member of which circuit-closer has a wire connection f with the generator 3 and also has connected therewith one of the bell-wires g, the other bell-wire leading to the switch-spring 17 in switch B, paired with the spring having the wire connection I). The said switch-spring 17 in switch B, in addition to the wire connection g, has a wire connection It with the hinding-post 27.

The receiver 5 has its separate cords or wires 2' respectively connected with the bindingposts 26 and 27, and said binding-post 20 has a separate wire connection 7' with one of the contact-springs 16 in switch A. The other contact-spring 16 in the switch A has a wire connection it with the corresponding spring 16 in the switch B, which latter spring has a circuit wire connection Zwith the binding-post 24 for one of the terminals of the secondary winding of the ordinary induction-coil which is used in connection with the transmitter 30. The other terminal of the secondary winding of this induction-coil has connection with the binding-post 25, which bind ing-post has a Wire connection on with the metallically-connected binding-posts 19 and 20, having the usual ground-wire ormetallic return-circuit connection therewith. The said binding-posts 19 and 20 of course constitute a single connection, but are employed on the apparatus for convenience in wiring. The other spring 16 in switch B, next to the spring having the wire connections and Z, is placed in circuit with the receiver 5 through the medium of the wire connection n, and the springs 15 15 in both switches A and B are directly connected together by the wires 0 and p. In addition to the wire connections o and p the springs 15 of switch B have connected therewith the battery and transmitter circuit wires (1 and 4*, leading, respectively, to the bindingposts 23 and 22, thereby completing the wire connections of the system with the local battery 31 and the transmitter.

Vhen bot-h receivers 5 and 5 are hung up on the hooks of their respective switch-levers, the pins of these switch-levers metallically connect the lower pair of springs 17 17 in both switches A and B, and thereby complete the bell-circuit, so that the subscriber can either ring up central or be rung up himself, as it will be seen that a complete circuit is made through the line-wire b, springs 17 of switch B, bell-wires g, and bell, circuit-closer 4, wire 0, springs 17 of switch A, wire a, and line. By opening the circuit-closer and manipulating the generator 3 in the usual manner central station may be rung up over that portion of the line which connects with the bindingpost 21 for the wire 5.

Assuming the receiver 5 being taken down for use and the receiver 5 left on the hook of its switch-lever, it will be obvious that the portion of the main line connecting with the binding-post 1S and the wire a will be cut out of the speaking-circuit, thereby preventing other subscribers hearing the conversation of the subscribers whose apparatus is in use. With the receiver 5 in use the springs 15 15 and 16 16 in switch A will be metallically connected by the contact-pin 14 of the springelevated switch-lever and the speaking-circuit will be established over one section of the line-wire b, switch-springs 1 7 of switch B, wire it, through receiver 5, wire j, springs 16 of switch A, wire 70, one of the springs 16 of switch B, wire Z, induction-coil, and ground or return. Vith the receiver 5 in use the Should A and the portion of the line connected with the wire b is cut out of the circuit.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of the herein-described system of cutting out from a subscribers telephone apparatus either terminal of the line-wire leading thereto will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and I will have it understood that various changes may be made in the system without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telephone system, the substation apparatus having a pair of receivers, and two separate receiver operated switches, the main line leading to the apparatus in sections which have separate terminal connections respectively with the separate switches, circuit-wire connections including the switches and the main-line terminals in the bell-circuit, and other circuit-wire connections including the switches in circuit with the two receivers and with the transmitter, whereby the removal of either receiver for use provides for closing the speaking-circuit over one section of the main line, substantially as set forth.

2. In a telephone system, the substation apparatus having a-pair of receivers and two separate receiver operated switches, each switch having separate upper and lower contacts, the main line having separate terminal connections, respectively with the lower con-.

tacts of the separate switches, circuit-wire connections including the lower contacts of the switches and the main-line terminals in the bell-circuit, and other circuit-wire connections between the upper contacts of each switch,-and the transmitter, and the two receivers, whereby the removal of either receiver for use provides for closing the speaking-circuit over one section of the mainline, substantially as described.

3. In a telephone system, the substation apparatus having a pair of receivers and two separate receiver operated switches, each switch comprising a switch-lever normally held elevated and provided with an oppositelyextending contact pin, two pairs of a switch or contact springs arranged side by side and adapted to be simultaneously engaged by said contact-pin, and a third pair of contact-springs arranged below the other two pairs and engaged by-the opposite portions of the contact-pin, circuit-wire connections for including the lower pair of springs in each switch in the main-line and bell circuits, and circuit-wire connections between the upper pairs of springs in each switch, and the local battery, the transmitter, and the two receivers, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM w. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

CLAY H001), A, P. SUMMERS. 

